Aruba Southern Caribbean Cruises

Aruba is located 1,200 miles south of Florida, just 18 miles off the coast of South America. Southern Caribbean cruises to Aruba typically last seven or more days because of the island's distance from major cruise ports. Many cruises to Aruba depart from San Juan, Puerto Rico - only 450 miles away. Cruise ships to Aruba arrive in Oranjestad, the island's capital city famous for its Dutch and Spanish architecture. Cruise ships dock here for 8 to 16 hours - most frequently from sunrise to sunset. The cruise Aruba Coastline terminal in Oranjestad is only a 5-minute walk to the downtown area. Oranjestad, named after the Dutch House of Orange, is a modern city with several casinos and the friendly natives cater to tourists. Since the island is located just 12 degrees north of the equator in the path of the trade winds, Aruba is constantly sunny and warm.

Aruba Shore Tours

Passengers can purchase Aruba excursion tours aboard the cruise ship or venture out on their own. An Aruba Tourist Bureau booth is located at the cruise terminal and downtown Oranjestd is an easy walk from the pier. Shopping at Royal Plaza Mall and Seaport Village Mall is on your way as you stroll downtown. The 46-passenger Atlantis Submarine has a passenger pick-up point in the downtown harbor. The Atlantis submerges Aruba Atlantis Submarines 150 feet allowing non-divers to experience the world beneath the sea without getting their hair wet. Some other attractions and tours include the Natural Bridge carved in coral by the wind and sea and a Glass Bottom Boat tour to the shipwrecked Antilla. Passengers can also enjoy City and Country Tours in buses and jeeps, snorkeling, scuba diving, golf at Tierra del Sol (a Robert Trent Jones II design), gambling (Aruba has 11 casinos), and picturesque white sandy beaches. Palm Beach and Eagle Beach are two very popular beaches just a short taxi ride from the terminal. Taxi rates are set by the government and are based on destination, not mileage.

Aruba Cruises from San Juan

Royal Caribbean Adventure of the Seas offers year-round 7-Night Southern Caribbean Aruba Beauty Cruises from San Juan with calls in Aruba, Curacao, St. Maarten, and St. Thomas. Adventure of the Seas spends 17 hours in Aruba (8 am - 1 am).

Celebrity Galaxy offers 7-Night Southern Caribbean cruises from San Juan with calls in St.Thomas, St. Kitts, Barbados, and Aruba (available January - April). The Galaxy spends 14 hours in Barbados on most cruises (8 am - 11 pm).

Carnival Destiny offers 7-Day Southern Caribbean cruises from San Juan with calls in St. Thomas, St. Lucia, Curacao, and Aruba. Carnival Destiny spends 15 hours in Aruba (8 am - 11 pm).

Aruba Cruises from Florida

Celebrity Summit offers 11-Night Caribbean cruises from Ft. Lauderdale with calls in Key West, Cozumel, Costa Rica, Panama, Columbia, Aruba, and Grand Cayman. Celebrity Summit spends 10 hours in Aruba (7 am - 5 pm).

Royal Caribbean Brilliance of the Seas offers 10-Night and 11-Night Circle the Caribbean Cruises from Miami with calls at Cozumel, Grand Cayman, Jamaica, Aruba, and Curacao. The 11-Night cruise also stops in Key West. Radiance of the Seas spends 16+ hours in Aruba (8 am - 12:30 am). Cruises run January - March and November - December.

Carnival Paradise offers 11-Night Exotic Caribbean cruises from Miami with calls in Curacao, Aruba, Panama, Costa Rica, and Key West. Carnival Paradise spends 11 hours in Aruba (7 am - 6 pm).